50 Years of Impact: A Holiday Gift That Keeps Giving: The Carleton-Kirk Lodge Fund
The story of a couple whose generosity continues to strengthen senior care in Saint John.
In December 2009, the Community Foundation received a gift that reflected decades of commitment, community, and care.
Eileen and Gordon Boyd had spent much of their lives connected to Carleton-Kirk United Church and the Carleton-Kirk Lodge Nursing Home. They worshipped there, volunteered there, served on boards there, and watched generations of Saint John residents find comfort and support through its programs and services.
As they considered how they wanted to give back, they chose to create something lasting.
Working with the Community Foundation, the Boyds established the Carleton-Kirk Lodge Fund, creating a permanent endowment whose income would help support the nursing home's ongoing needs. Rather than a one-time donation, the fund was designed to provide support year after year, ensuring future generations of residents would benefit from their generosity.
The story of Carleton-Kirk Lodge itself is one of community vision. The facility grew from the efforts of church leaders and volunteers who recognized a need for affordable housing and quality care for seniors on Saint John's west side. Through determination, fundraising, and countless volunteer hours, the lodge became an important part of the community.
The Boyds understood that legacy firsthand.
Gordon had served on the nursing home's board and was deeply involved in its development over the years. Eileen contributed her time to numerous community organizations and shared a strong belief in helping others. Together, they saw philanthropy not simply as giving money, but as strengthening the institutions that make communities thrive.
Their gift arrived just before the holidays, making it a fitting reminder that generosity can create impact far beyond a single season.
At the time, Community Foundation Chair Cheryl Robertson noted that the fund added to the Foundation's growing family of endowments dedicated to improving life in Greater Saint John. More importantly, it demonstrated how ordinary citizens can create extraordinary impact when they choose to invest in the future of their community.
Today, the Carleton-Kirk Lodge Fund continues to honour the Boyds' commitment to seniors and to the place that meant so much to them.
Fifty years after the Community Foundation's founding, stories like this remind us that philanthropy is often rooted in relationships between people, places, and the causes they care about most.
The gift the Boyds made during the holiday season continues to give, helping ensure that residents receive the care, dignity, and support they deserve for generations to come.